Windproof clothespin



Jan. 14, 1941. A. w. NORDECK WINDPROOF CLOTHESPIN Filed Jung 6, 1939 Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices, commonly known as clothespins, for hanging clothes or other articles on a clothesline for the purpose of drying or airing the article; and has for its objects to provide such a clothespin which will securely hold the article to the line even in a strong wind; to provide a clothespin whose clamping jaws are always open except when clamped on an article;

1 which is simple and cheap to make; easy to operate, and effective in use.

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved clothespins about to be clamped on a clothesline; Fig. 2 is a similar View thereof when so clamped;

-,- Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the upper part thereof showing a variation in the elastic means for pressing the two parts thereof together.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As clearly seen by the drawing this clothespin comprises two separate and distinct main parts l and 2, each forming a half of the pin; a clamp ring 3; and an elastic cap 4, or other elastic means engaging the tops of both the parts I and 2 and pressing them towards each other.

The two parts I and 2 are substantially complementary to each other. The part I is formed with a V-shaped notch 5 in its flat inner surface and near its upper end and the part 2 is provided with a V-shaped lug 6 extending from its flat inner surface and loosely engaging in said notch 5. The inner or contiguous surfaces of the two half pins are flat in transverse section. The said flat inner surfaces make a bend at the said V- shaped notch 5 and lug 6 in suchmanner that if the parts below the notch and lug are in contact with each other the parts above said notch and lug diverge therefrom, and vice versa.

The upper parts I of the parts I and 2 are normally forced towards each other'by means of the rubber cap or cup 4, or by means of a metal spring 8 (Fig. 4) or by some other equivalent means such as a rubber band not shown, thus separating the lower parts or legs 9 of the pin.

The lower parts 9 may be provided with a recessed portion Ill adapted to grip the clothesline l l and the garment.

The parts I and 9 of the clothespin are separated by a shoulder I2 extending outward therefrom. The clamp ring 3 is located below the 5 shoulder I2 and is of such size as to be larger than the parts I and 2 at a point just below the said shoulder l2 but smaller than said parts at the lower ends of the legs 9 above the said recessed portions l0. 10

It will be readily understood that the V-shaped notch and lug hold the parts I and 2 from relative longitudinal movement and together act as a fulcrum or hinge about which the said parts turn, and that as the ring 3 is pushed down from 15 its upper position (Fig. l) to its lower position (as in Fig. 2) the said recessed parts III are forced towards each other to grip the clothing and the olothesline.

It is evident that this clothespin may be made 20 of any desired material and may be made in any suitable machine or by any appropriate process.

It is, of course, understood that many changes may be made in the details of my improved clothespin without departing from the spirit of 5 my invention as outlined in the appended claim.

Having, therefore, described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a clothespin, a pair of independent complementary main parts; a V-shaped notch removed 30 from but adjacent to the upper end of one main part; a V-shaped lug extending out from the other main part in complementary position to said V-shaped notch and loosely engaging therein to form a fulcrum about which said two parts may turn; the adjacent surfaces above and below said notch and lug of each of said two parts diverging at said notch and lug; an elastic cup fitting over the upper ends of said two parts above said fulcrum and tending to separate the lower ends thereof; a ring slidably mounted on said two parts and adapted to be forced downward thereon to clamp the lower ends thereof towards each other; and shoulders extending outward from points near the upper ends of each of said main parts and adapted to retain said clamping ring on said clothespin.

ARTHUR W. NORDECK. 

